Volume II Part 68 (1/2)

Thy son, thou know'st, with Dido now remains, 70 And feeds his eyes with favours of her court; She, likewise, in admiring spends her time, And cannot talk nor think of aught but him: Why should not they, then, join in marriage, And bring forth mighty kings to Carthage-town, Whom casualty of sea hath made such friends?

And, Venus, let there be a match confirm'd Betwixt these two, whose loves are so alike; And both our deities, conjoin'd in one, Shall chain felicity unto their throne. 80

_Ven._ Well could I like this reconcilement's means; But much I fear my son will ne'er consent, Whose armed soul, already on the sea, Darts forth her light [un]to Lavinia's sh.o.r.e.

_Juno._ Fair queen of love, I will divorce these doubts, And find my way to weary such fond thoughts.

This day they both a-hunting forth will ride Into the[502] woods adjoining to these walls; When, in the midst of all their gamesome sports, I'll make the clouds dissolve their watery works, 90 And drench Silva.n.u.s' dwellings with their showers; Then in one cave the queen and he shall meet, And interchangeably discourse their thoughts, Whose short conclusion will seal up their hearts Unto the purpose which we now propound.

_Ven._ Sister, I see you savour of my wiles: Be it as you will have [it] for this once.

Meantime Ascanius shall be my charge; Whom I will bear to Ida in mine arms, And couch him in Adonis' purple down. 100 [_Exeunt._

SCENE III.

_Enter_[503] DIDO, aeNEAS, ANNA, IARBAS, ACHATES, CUPID _as_ ASCANIUS, _and_ Followers.

_Dido._ aeneas, think not but I honour thee, That thus in person go with thee to hunt: My princely robes, thou see'st, are laid aside, Whose glittering pomp Diana's shroud[504] supplies; All fellows now, disposed alike to sport; The woods are wide, and we have store of game.

Fair Trojan, hold my golden bow a while, Until I gird my quiver to my side.-- Lords, go before; we two must talk alone.

_Iar._ Ungentle, can she wrong Iarbas so? 10

I'll die before a stranger have that grace.

”We two will talk alone”--what words be these! [_Aside._

_Dido._ What makes Iarbas here of all the rest?

We could have gone without your company.

_aen._ But love and duty led him on perhaps To press beyond acceptance to your sight.

_Iar._ Why! man of Troy, do I offend thine eyes?

Or art thou grieved thy betters press so nigh?

_Dido._ How now, Gaetulian! are you grown so brave, To challenge us with your comparisons? 20 Peasant, go seek companions like thyself, And meddle not with any that I love.-- aeneas, be not moved at what he says; For otherwhile he will be out of joint.

_Iar._ Women may wrong by privilege of love; But, should that man of men, Dido except, Have taunted me in these opprobrious terms, I would have either drunk his dying blood, Or else I would have given my life in gage. 29

_Dido._ Huntsmen, why pitch you not your toils apace, And rouse the light-foot deer from forth their lair?

_Anna._ Sister, see, see Ascanius in his pomp, Bearing his hunt-spear bravely in his hand!

_Dido._ Yea, little son, are you so forward now?

_Cup._ I, mother; I shall one day be a man, And better able unto other arms; Meantime these wanton weapons serve my war, Which I will break betwixt a lion's jaws.

_Dido._ What? dar'st thou look a lion in the face?

_Cup._ I; and outface him too, do what he can. 40

_Anna._ How like his father speaketh he in all!

_aen._ And mought I live to see him sack rich Thebes, And load his spear with Grecian princes' heads, Then would I wish me with Anchises' tomb, And dead to honour that hath brought me up.

_Iar._ And might I live to see thee s.h.i.+pp'd away, And hoist aloft on Neptune's hideous hills, Then would I wish me in fair Dido's arms, And dead to scorn that hath pursu'd me so. [_Aside._